The 2025 MotoGP™ season has welcomed four winners in the last four Grands Prix amidst a crazy opening quarter of the year. However, whilst the track action is red hot and producing storylines previously unimaginable and a Championship battle between brothers that we’ve longed for. Now in Europe, silly season is ramping up and so are the rumours – we analyse them all below.
CONTRACTS UP FOR RENEWAL
There are four seats on the grid that haven’t been confirmed for 2026; Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) is at the end of his two-year deal, Jack Miller has a one-year contract at Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP, Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) is concluding his two-year agreement and Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) was signed up for a year. However, like always with silly season, there tend to be additional rumours regarding other riders who may well be under contract but there are clauses that can be activated if either party (the rider or team) wish to do so for whatever reason.
THE JORGE MARTIN SITUATION: what we know
One of the biggest stories of the season has been Jorge Martin’s statement, released at the end of May after the British GP. You can read the full statement here. With regards to his physical condition and potential return to action in 2025, Aprilia released a statement prior to Aragon. If Martin and Aprilia do part ways, a factory seat becomes available for a season that it wasn’t expected too; the musical chairs for a proven winning machine is well worth keeping an eye on.
ACOSTA RUMOURS: under contract with KTM for 2026 but rumours circulate
The first thing to mention is that Pedro Acosta has a contract for 2026 with KTM; the Spaniard graduated to the factory team but has been linked to an array of seats, including the VR46 squad and Honda. Valentino Rossi spoke at Lusail that he “likes Acosta very much” but is likewise “happy” with his current line-up. Acosta stated that “the dream is still there” with regards to what he wants to achieve at KTM. Previous messages of the Jerez test being “crucial” and ‘turning points’ with his manager haven’t added to an obvious outcome. Then, at the British GP, despite P6 on Sunday, Acosta spoke to Spanish media stating that he ‘can’t wait all his life to be Champion’ and that he ‘doesn’t have patience’ for an ‘unacceptable situation’. Aragon welcomed a P4 on Sunday but the test left the #37 only “satisfied.”
ZARCO AND MARINI: the latest on the Honda seats available
Media reports that Johann Zarco is having positive talks with Honda about remaining in their family in MotoGP – and those talks would have been bolstered by the Frenchman’s excellent performance to win his home GP at Le Mans. He’s made it no secret that he’d like to be in the factory Honda squad, taking the place of Luca Marini who has his contract up for renewal. The Italian was the only rider on the grid to score points in every GP so far in 2025 and confirmed ahead of the French GP that discussions were underway between himself and Honda about renewing their existing deal. However, Marini’s run is now unfortunately over after a testing crash at Suzuka for the 8 Hour race, out through injury. Lucio Ceccinello, LCR team owner, has stated his intention to keep Johann in his team but what is not up for discussion is the increasing competitivity of Honda, who have made giant strides forwards from 2024.
BASTIANINI LOOKING ELSEWHERE? A surprise mover and shaker
Enea Bastianini’s (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) move from Ducati red to KTM orange has been a tricky one. Still with his trademark late-race pace but struggling in qualifying – starting no higher than 17th all season – could a change be on ‘The Beast’s horizon? Rumours surfaced on Sky Sport’s broadcast in Italy about a potential switch to Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP, with Jack Miller’s seat being the only one available. However, he may have some competition if other rumours are to be believed.
WorldSBK ARRIVALS: Razgatlioglu moves across, Bulega lands Ducati testing gig
One of motorcycle racing fans’ biggest dreams has been to see what WorldSBK sensation Toprak Razgatlioglu can do on MotoGP™ machinery; wait no longer, he’s coming in 2026. The double WorldSBK Champion finally joins the MotoGP paddock with Prima Pramac Yamaha for next season, something that has sent both paddocks into overdrive with how the rest of the seats shake out.
Along with that, current WorldSBK Championship leader Nicolo Bulega remains in WorldSBK for 2026 with the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team but will be an official Ducati test rider in MotoGP™, with work looking towards 2027’s rule change. Davide Tardozzi, Ducati Lenovo team manager, recently stated that Nicolo is “someone we’re looking at for the future. We trust him and maybe we’ll have some more collaboration in the future.” Ducati took on exciting rookie Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) and that’s going well…
SILLY SEASON FOR A REASON: announcements and confirmations await
So, what do you think? Until we have an announcement in our hands from the respective team, factory or rider, there’s no way of knowing what’s 0% true, what’s 90% true or what is even talk put out there to improve someone’s negotiating position. The biggest shock rider move of the last few years – Marc Marquez to Gresini – wasn’t even announced until we arrived in Indonesia. Watch this space and let’s see what other rumours we get over the next few GPs…